Nicole Giordano

Her style of play has been electrifying for the past three years, and it always seemed Nicole Giordano would be a lock for this award when her time came. It has come, as Giordano is The Times' Valley player of the year. In leading Saugus to its fourth Foothill League softball championship in a row and a second consecutive semifinal game in the Southern Section Division II playoffs, Giordano became more than a player with astronomical statistics.

Nicole Giordano SCHOOL: Saugus SPORT: Softball YEAR: Junior SEASON AT A GLANCE: Giordano was converted from left field to shortstop at the start of the season but she didn't miss a beat. The area's premier leadoff hitter, Giordano batted .490, scored 30 runs and stole 51 bases in 52 attempts. She was named Foothill League player of the year.

Saugus High softball player Nicole Giordano made a commitment to the University of Arizona on Thursday, ending a two-day ordeal and perhaps outwitting Arizona Coach Mike Candrea. Giordano accepted a scholarship from Candrea 48 hours after he asked her to join the NCAA champion Wildcats next season as a walk-on with a promise that she would have a scholarship by the start of the 1998-99 school year.

Her style of play has been electrifying for the past three years, and it always seemed Nicole Giordano would be a lock for this award when her time came. It has come, as Giordano is The Times' Valley player of the year. In leading Saugus to its fourth Foothill League softball championship in a row and a second consecutive semifinal game in the Southern Section Division II playoffs, Giordano became more than a player with astronomical statistics.

'That's ridiculous. How do we have five losses?' Saugus softball Coach Ron Hilton, on his team's .402 batting average, Nicole Giordano's 0.49 earned-run average and the Centurions' 19-5 record.

SOFTBALL First Team *--* Player Position School Mary Colleran P Hart Sandra Durazo P Kennedy Danielle Ferreira P Crescenta Valley Jamie Gillies P Saugus Tina Kinney P Hoover Jodi Kent C Verdugo Hills Jodie Cox IF Quartz Hill Nicole Giordano IF Saugus Tami Jones IF El Camino Real Maureen LeCocq IF Chaminade Tina Curcio OF Alemany Kristi Di Marco OF Palmdale Ramona Shelburne OF El Camino Real *--* Second Team *--* Player Position School Jessica Creith P Granada Hills Kim Diener P Alemany Vicki

The accolades keep rolling in for Jessica Mendoza of Stanford. Mendoza, a sophomore outfielder and graduate of Camarillo High, made the National Fastpitch Coaches Assn. All-American team for the second time Wednesday night at a banquet in Oklahoma City. Mendoza leads the nation with a .475 batting average, a Cardinal record, and was Pacific 10 Conference player of the year. She also had single-season school records of 94 hits, 20 doubles, 13 home runs, 57 runs and 20 stolen bases.

Saugus High softball player Nicole Giordano made a commitment to the University of Arizona on Thursday, ending a two-day ordeal and perhaps outwitting Arizona Coach Mike Candrea. Giordano accepted a scholarship from Candrea 48 hours after he asked her to join the NCAA champion Wildcats next season as a walk-on with a promise that she would have a scholarship by the start of the 1998-99 school year.

Nicole Giordano SCHOOL: Saugus SPORT: Softball YEAR: Junior SEASON AT A GLANCE: Giordano was converted from left field to shortstop at the start of the season but she didn't miss a beat. The area's premier leadoff hitter, Giordano batted .490, scored 30 runs and stole 51 bases in 52 attempts. She was named Foothill League player of the year.

Doug Magorien, boys' coach at Taft High the last 18 seasons, has resigned to become girls' coach at Westlake. "It's a better opportunity for me," Magorien said. "I live in that area. "It's kind of a family and professional decision." Magorien said he will teach at a middle school in Westlake Village. Last season he led the Toreadors to their third consecutive City Section championship.